The Quakers have cancelled an event that was due to host suspended "Jew-baiter" MP Chris Williamson, that was due to take place on Thursday at a meeting house after two other venues pulled out.
Two venues cancelled bookings made for ‘Chris Williamson MP: A democratic, socialist economy’ before organisers secured the Brighton Quaker Meeting House in Brighton’s city centre for the event.
"Quakers in Britain recognise that antisemitis is a real and growing problem in the UK and globally," Quakers in Britain said on Twitter on Thursday afternoon, hours before the event was due to take place.
"Antisemitism, as with all forms of racism, contravenes our fundamental belief that all people are equal and precious."
Brighton Quaker Meeting House have cancelled this booking. Quakers in Britain recognise that antisemitism is a real and growing problem in the UK and globally. Antisemitism, as with all forms of racism, contravenes our fundamental belief that all people are equal and precious.
— Quakers in Britain (@BritishQuakers) August 8, 2019
The Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) had been due to hold a protest in Brighton about the event.
The Derby North MP was suspended in February for claiming that Labour had been “too apologetic” in the party's antisemitism row. He was later readmitted and then re-suspended in June.
He has also previously expressed support for Labour Against The Witch-hunt, which campaigns for the reinstatement of members expelled over antisemitism.
The Board, the JLC and the Sussex Jewish Representative Council invited members of the community to join their protest at Brighton Town Hall at 6.15pm.
Organisers of the event praised Mr Williamson as a “strong trade unionist and lifelong anti-racist who makes no apology for showing solidarity with fellow socialists targeted by anti-Corbyn opponents”.
On an Eventbrite page, they wrote: “Members and supporters of the Labour Party in Brighton and Hove are delighted to welcome Chris again to our city.
“This time he will be discussing the crucial importance of resisting the wave of assaults on the party and importance of protecting freedom of speech.”
Attendees were due to auction a cartoon by Steve Bell that The Guardian refused to publish last month.
The cartoon depicts Labour deputy leader Tom Watson as an "antisemite finder general" for being critical of Jew-hate in the party.
Mr Watson encounters Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and calling him an "antisemitic trope" only to apologise saying "I thought you were a member of the Labour Party".
